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Although social media is criticized for its triviality, it has the potential to create space for meaningful exchange of dialogue and ideas. Our generation grew up in a world where Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube have had a revolutionary impact on the way we communicate (literally). It is a medium through which the voices of the world can congregate in one location to share what matters to them–militant vegan agendas included.

Soon after we convened at the McDonald Cadet Leadership Conference, we found ourselves daunted by our world’s challenges and aware of the struggle of its leaders to address these problems. Through our conversations we soon discovered that we have a public space of seemingly limitless potential in which we can find common ground with total strangers and our closest friends, making progress towards solutions to our world’s crises.

Now more than ever constituents are voicing their opinion and receiving real time feedback. Pat Robben, a Junior at the United States Military Academy, shared a story in which he tweeted his congressmen during the government shut down and received immediate feedback from the floor of the house. This unprecedented two-way communication is extended to the media; users can now provide direct feedback to news outlets. News outlets that choose to take advantage of twitter and facebook have additional outlets to communicate their stories in concise ways. The key is to exploit this up and coming source of communication.

Social media is also giving a voice to thousands of individuals worldwide who are facing political strife, from women in rural China to children going to school for the first time in Africa. In Egypt, more than 90,000 people signed up on a Facebook page to follow news from the protest and the number of tweets about political change in that region increased by two orders of magnitude. The fact that social media is blocked in many countries indicates that governments recognize its power. This medium can provide public discourse beyond the level of internet pop music sensation Rebecca Black’s contribution to society by stimulating genuine conversations between cultures, political parties, and the unheard inspired leaders.

Today’s newest constitutions and policies are written in google docs, its collaborators writing and editing one another in cyberspace. If those in positions of leadership take it upon themselves to authentically express their vision and ideas in a public online setting or work to open the social media forum to those who currently lack access, we become a more open and informed world population. Last year, Facebook users built a boat for school children who had to swim an hour to school in Southeast Asia. Today, preconceived notions and ideals will continue to be challenged, and those who use the medium with purpose have the opportunity to influence someone across the world in a positive way.

Got it. Social media is a powerful tool to share information across international borders–#SoWhat?

The lone militant vegan on your newsfeed is vulnerable. Sharing what you care about in “public” subjects you to criticism that many shy away from. But if the scientist, engineer, business leader, doctor, economist, and educator begin to update, tweet, and #hashtag in an effort to share their wealth of knowledge by sharing stories, it can empower individuals with truly new information and knowledge. So instead of discouraging the use of social media, learn to use it constructively.

The potential for discovery, and for a more open and connected world, is yet untapped.

The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the position of the United States Military Academy, the Department of the Army, or the Department of Defense.